Schools reopen as Riverton fire dies

SCHOOLs THAT were ordered closed last week due to the heavy smoke which emanated from the Riverton landfill will reopen today.

This is as a result of the successful abatement of the smoke nuisance.

Last week, heavy smoke which blanketed parts of Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine led to the Ministry of Education calling for the closure of several schools in all three parishes. The incident also saw several companies along Spanish Town Road sending home several of their staff members who developed respiratory problems.

Yesterday, a release from the national Solid Waste management Authority, signed by several other agencies which collaborated last week to put out the blaze, said the situation is under control.

"Operations to meet the target for the first 72 hours to control the fire and smoke nuisance at the Riverton landfill have been accomplished. The ground command operations have now moved into phase two which is the further cooling, complete abatement of the smoke nuisance and full restoration of operations. All fires have been extinguished.

PUBLIC TO BE UPDATED

The release said the ODPEM, NSWMA, the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Ministry of Health, National Works Agency, National Water Commission, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Ministry of Education will continue to monitor and update the public on the progress of the remaining operation.